Introduction

Protecting natural resources alongside fostering economic growth and development is a key global

issue. Our country depends heavily on the quality of its natural environment, and much of the

economic growth we have enjoyed, and stand to enjoy, has and will come from using our natural

resources.

Sound local, national and international environmental management is important to New Zealanders, so

it is fitting that the EPA is striving to be a world-leading environmental regulator.

The EPA was established as a national environmental regulator. Our activities enable economic

growth while maintaining and enhancing the quality of our environment. We manage environmental

effects of proposals where a national perspective is needed, including the administration of legislation

and regulations to address climate change.

During 2014, our third year of operation, we implemented our EPA strategy for 2014-18, which sets

our priorities and approach. In the climate change context we focus specifically on maximising

confidence in the integrity and service delivery of the Emissions Trading Scheme to work towards our

vision of becoming a world-leading environmental regulator and an agile, future-focused and

innovative organisation.

Rob Forlong

Chief Executive

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Table of Contents

Part One: Organisation and responsibility ......................................................................................... 7

Overview ........................................................................................................................................ 7

Governance and structure ............................................................................................................. 8

The EPA Strategy .......................................................................................................................... 9

Part Two: Responsibilities .................................................................................................................. 11

Ministerial responsibilities ............................................................................................................ 11

The EPA’s responsibilities ........................................................................................................... 11

Consultation and engagement .................................................................................................... 14

Part Three: Major Policy and Implementation Issues ...................................................................... 15

The ETS and NZEUR .................................................................................................................. 15

Redevelopment of the NZEUR .................................................................................................... 16

Part Four: Pending Decisions or Actions ......................................................................................... 17

Appendix One: The EPA Strategy and He Whetū Mārama .............................................................. 19

Appendix Two: Output classes, fees and other revenue for 2014-15 ............................................ 21

Appendix Three: Biographies of key people .................................................................................... 23

Appendix Four: Ngā Kaihautū Tikanga Taiao Biographies ............................................................. 27

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Part One: Organisation and responsibility

Overview

1. The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) was established as a Crown Agent under the

Environmental Protection Authority Act 2011. Our statutory objective is to undertake our

functions in a way that:

a) contributes to the efficient, effective and transparent management of New Zealand’s

environment and natural and physical resources, and

b) enables New Zealand to meet its international obligations.

2. We have a number of powers, duties and functions under the following environmental Acts:

Resource Management Act (RMA) 1991 (providing secretariat support to Boards of

Inquiry appointed by the Minister for the Environment or the Minister of Conservation to

determine Proposals of National Significance)

Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act (HSNO)1996 (processing approval

applications and monitoring and enforcement of hazardous substances use not monitored

by other agencies)

Ozone Layer Protection Act 1996 (permit approvals, monitoring and reporting)

Climate Change Response Act (CCRA) 2002 (administering the Emissions Trading

Scheme and New Zealand Emissions Unit Register)

Imports and Exports (Restrictions) Act 1988 and Imports and Exports (Restrictions)

Prohibition Order (No 2) 2004 (Orders)

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act 2012

(including processing marine consent applications and undertaking monitoring and

enforcement of permitted activities and marine consents).

3. The Environmental Protection Authority Act 2011 also provides for the EPA to carry out a

number of other functions. These include the provision of technical advice to other agencies

(activities including advice to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) on environmental

assessment in Antarctica), advice to Ministers and Government om matters relating to EPA

functions under environmental Acts, and contribution to international forums (including OECD

and APEC).

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Gillian Wratt, EPA Board

Dr Nicki Crauford,

EPA Board

Governance and structure

4. The EPA is governed by a Board appointed by the Minister for the Environment. The Board is

supported in its function by the statutory Māori Advisory Committee, Ngā Kaihautū Tikanga

Taiao (Ngā Kaihautū) and the HSNO Committee.

The EPA Board

5. The EPA Board consists of between six to eight members, who must have collective knowledge

of, and experience in, matters relevant to the functions of the EPA. At least one member must

have knowledge and experience relating to the Treaty of Waitangi and tikanga Māori. The term

for the appointment of members of the EPA Board is for three years. Current Board members

are:

Note: Biographies are available in Appendix Three.

Māori Advisory Committee

6. Ngā Kaihautū provides advice and assistance to the EPA from a Māori

perspective on policy, process and decisions of the EPA. Up to eight members

are appointed by the EPA Board and operate within a Terms of Reference set by

the Board. Ngā Kaihautū currently has eight members: Tīpene Wilson (Chair),

Ngaire Burley (Deputy Chair), Dr James Ataria, James Doherty, Wharemāwhai

Mina Timutimu, Marino Tahi, Kelly May and James Whetu.

Note: Biographies are available in Appendix Four.

Kerry Prendergast, Chair

Dr Kevin Thompson, Deputy Chair and

HSNO Chair

Tīpene Wilson, Māori Advisory

Committee Chair

Tim Lusk, EPA Board

Taria Tahana, EPA Board

Kura Denness, EPA Board

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HSNO Committee

7. The HSNO Committee is established by the EPA Board under the Crown Entities Act 2004. The

Board recommends the appointment of members to the HSNO Committee for the approval of

the Minister for the Environment. The Board delegates decision-making powers under the

HSNO Act to the HSNO Committee, the Chief Executive of the EPA and various third parties (in

defined circumstances). Generally decisions on publicly notified HSNO applications are made

by a sub-committee appointed by the HSNO Committee.

8. The Committee currently consists of eight members: Dr Kevin Thompson (Chair), Helen Atkins,

Dr Kerry Laing, Dr Louise Malone, Dr Deborah Read, Damian Stone, Dr John Taylor and Dr

Nick Roskruge.

EPA staff

9. The EPA is headed by Rob Forlong and has 185 permanent and fixed term staff. All but three

are located in Wellington. The three staff members are located in the Central Government

Policy Office in Auckland. EPA staff support the Board in carrying out its statutory functions and

are responsible for delegated decision making in some areas, such as HSNO and EEZ. The

organisation is structured into six Groups, each of which is led by a General Manager:

Applications and Assessment (Sarah Gardner)

Corporate Services (Johanne Spring)

Emissions Trading Scheme (Andrea Gray)

Enforcement and Compliance (Andrea Eng)

Kaupapa Kura Taiao (Linda Faulkner)

Policy and Legal (Phil Parkes).

The EPA Strategy

10. On 1 July 2014, the Board launched a new Strategy for the EPA that sets out our vision of being

“a world-leading environmental regulator” and our work focus to “deliver robust, objective

decisions and ensure compliance with rules to protect people and the environment”. To give

effect to the Strategy the EPA will focus on the following strategic intentions:

a) improve the efficiency of the regulatory framework for hazardous substances

b) maximise confidence in the integrity and service delivery of the Emissions Trading

Scheme

c) embed the regulation of activities in the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf,

and

d) develop improved business capabilities through enhanced EPA systems.

Andrea Gray, General Manager Emissions Trading Scheme

Note: Biographies are available in Appendix Three.

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11. The Board also adopted He Whetū Mārama, which is a framework to guide the EPA in the

undertaking of its statutory and other obligations to Māori. He Whetū Mārama focuses on

informed decision making and maintaining productive relationships with Māori.

12. Our Strategy and He Whetū Mārama can be found in Appendix One. Specific details can be

found in the attached Statement of Intent and Statement of Performance Expectations.

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Part Two: Responsibilities

Ministerial responsibilities

13. The following summarises the responsibilities you have in regard to the EPA.

Climate Change Response Act 2002

14. The Minister for Climate Change Issues may give general directions to the EPA in relation to its

exercise of powers or performance of functions (but not in relation to a particular person) under

the Act. Such directions will be published in the Gazette.

15. The EPA is not required to consult the Minister for Climate Change Issues or the Minister of

Finance on any operational ETS matters before making a decision.

16. The Minister of Finance may, on behalf of the Crown, direct the Registrar regarding Crown

accounts in the New Zealand Emission Unit Register (NZEUR) and the issuing, trading or

transfer of emission units.

The EPA’s responsibilities

Administration of the ETS and NZEUR

17. The ETS is a cross agency initiative between MfE, EPA, Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)

and Treasury. A Memorandum of Understanding sets out the respective roles and

responsibilities across the agencies. This is supported by an Operations Manual and

governance arrangements including the ETS Operations Executive Group (at Director / General

Manager level) and ETS Coordinators Group (manager level).

18. The EPA’s role is to oversee activities related to non-forestry participants and industrial

allocation recipients as well as administration of the NZEUR. This covers a range of activities

including:

Opening of accounts

Registration and deregistration of participants

Reporting of emissions and surrendering of units to meet obligations

Processing of industrial allocation applications

Carrying out of Crown transactions and supporting trading between private account

holders (both domestically and internationally)

Issuing of surrender and penalty notices.

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19. The Registrar is a statutory function, held by the Chief Executive of the EPA. It is delegated to

specific positions within the Registry Operations Team. The Registrar’s role is to have oversight

of the NZEUR, ensuring actions undertaken in the registry and within the statutory requirements

of the Act.

20. The role is also responsible for the transfer of units to and from Crown accounts and ensuring

that the registry is meeting its international requirements (e.g. reconciliation and reporting).

21. In executing its administration function, the EPA seeks to maximise confidence in the service

delivery and integrity of the ETS and NZEUR.

International responsibilities and profile

22. The EPA supports the meeting of New Zealand’s United Nations Framework Convention on

Climate Change (UNFCCC) commitments by actively participating in a range for forums and

activities, as well as contributing to the wider international community. These forums and

activities include:

UNFCCC Regional System Administrators Forum (RSA) and International Transaction Log (ITL)

23. The RSA forum provides the opportunity for the national registry administrators to discuss

emerging issues with colleagues from the national registries, and to implement minor changes

to ensure better security and integrity across the system. It also makes recommendations to the

UNFCCC on substantive matters relating to the operating of the registries within the Kyoto

Protocol.

24. The ITL, which is operated by the UNFCCC, is the mechanism all registries use to trade

emission units internationally. National registry participation has included Disaster Recovery

testing, and ad-hoc projects, such as membership on several working groups dealing with the

security and integrity of the international carbon market and the Registries that operate within it.

UNFCCC Expert Reviewers

25. The EPA provides trained staff to participate in National Inventory Report expert reviews, where

countries’ UNFCCC national greenhouse inventory reports are subject to an independent

review. This ensures greenhouse gas emissions and removals are being accurately accounted

for, and progress against Kyoto Protocol commitments accurately reported.

UNFCCC Consolidated Assessment Week (Registries)

26. As the operator of the New Zealand Emission Unit Register, the EPA participates in the annual

UNFCCC Consolidated Assessment Week for national registries. This is an annual process

where the national registries of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol are reviewed to ensure they

comply with the rules of the Protocol, and are accurately tracking and accounting the emissions

units held. The results of this review are provided to the expert review teams charged with

reviewing each country’s national inventory report.

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First Commitment Period Retirement and Carry-over

27. We will play a key role in meeting New Zealand’s obligation for the first commitment period

(CP1) of the Kyoto Protocol by planning and implementing CP1 Retirement and carry over. The

CP1 Retirement is the process by which New Zealand will “surrender” the emission units

required to meet its emissions over the CP1 period (2008-2012).

28. Certain units in excess of New Zealand’s CP1 obligation are eligible to be carried over in to the

second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, and used to meet New Zealand’s target under

the UNFCCC.

Regional carbon market linking and the domestic carbon market

29. The EPA is supporting the MfE in its work developing regional and bilateral links between

carbon markets through the provision of operational and technical expertise. Emission unit

registries and the integrity of emission units play an important role in the development of a

regional or bilateral market, and the EPA’s expertise in this area has helped to advance this

work.

30. In addition, the EPA has developed a close working relationship with Australia’s Clean Energy

Regulator. Regular conference calls are scheduled to discuss common issues and share

knowledge.

Commitment Period 2

31. The EPA will continue to be actively involved in these international forums. Our role in some of

these may become more that of an observer because of decisions made about New Zealand’s

participation in Commitment Period 2. Irrespective of New Zealand’s participation in the second

commitment period, the NZEUR will remain compliant with the security and data management

requirements of the UNFCCC. This is important as the standards are broadly regarded as a

default for new registries, and ensure our ability to respond to diverse policy directions.

ETS Facts and Figures

32. The EPA recently published the ETS Facts and Figures report alongside the section 89 and

section 250 reports. These reports present key data on the ETS as at 30 June 2014. Key

statistics from these reports include:

2,490 participants in the ETS, including both non-forestry and forestry participants.

Approximately 7,900 holding accounts.

Approximately 71 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent of total non-forestry emissions

reported for the 2013 reporting period.

18.84m units surrendered by non-forestry participants for the 2013 reporting period.

4.7m units allocated for eligible industrial activities.

580 million units held in the NZEUR (including both private and Crown accounts).

The full reports can be accessed here http://www.epa.govt.nz/e-m-t/reports/ets_reports/annual/Pages/default.aspx

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Consultation and engagement

33. Consultation with our stakeholders is undertaken by the EPA through both formal and informal

mechanisms. The EPA engages with different groups of stakeholders of the ETS, including

mandatory and voluntary participants, entities carrying out activities eligible for industrial

allocations, and traders.

34. This engagement ensures that they are all sufficiently informed to comply with their obligations

or to receive entitlements and that the service being provided facilitates any ETS transactions

they might make.

35. Key stakeholders include:

Account holders and traders of units.

Account representatives and third parties providing ETS advice.

Participants and Industrial Allocation recipients.

Ministry for the Environment (MfE), Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and The Treasury

as key agencies working on the ETS.

New Zealand Customs and NZ Transport Agency regarding the administration of the

Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Levy.

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (call centre and energy reporting) and

the Inland Revenue Department (compliance).

International Transaction Log (UNFCCC) and other national registries.

Serious Fraud Office, New Zealand Police, Financial Markets Authority and Department of

Internal Affairs in relation to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of

Terrorism Act 2009 and broader financial crime and registry information security and

integrity risks.

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Part Three: Major policy and implementation issues

The ETS and NZEUR

Compliance

36. The EPA provides ongoing assistance and education as part of its compliance programme.

There is currently a relatively high level of compliance among the non-forestry participants and

industrial allocation recipients. It is possible that a low emission unit price reduces the financial

gains from non-compliant behaviour. Current settings within the CCRA place a $30 per unit

penalty on a range of non-compliant activities.

Security, assurance, and internal controls

37. Our security, integrity, and assurance work is encapsulated in a comprehensive business

assurance programme centred on the administration of the NZEUR and the ETS. The NZEUR

system has security controls built into it. We have also developed controls and assurances

processes relating to the people and processes using the NZEUR or the ETS processes to

minimise the likelihood and impact of risks to the system and the units held within the Register.

We apply security policies and controls as required or recommended by the International

Transaction Log of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the

Office of the Government Chief Information Officer.

38. The business assurance programme also includes formal risk assessment and management

processes, security audits, internal controls reporting and disaster recovery testing.

Supporting the New Zealand carbon market

39. The EPA is working to strengthen and enhance the New Zealand carbon market through the

provision of greater information on market activity, and the development of procedures and

policies to minimise the likelihood and impact of cybercrime, financial crime and fraud. In

particular we are working with MfE and MPI on the issue of oversight of the carbon market

across two areas:

i. Lack of mandatory best practices and standards for advisory services.

ii. Lack of rules, standards and best practices for intermediary services.

40. Financial crime, in particular money laundering, poses a risk to the NZEUR. This risk has been

realised in overseas registries. We have initiated contact with other agencies working in this

space to ensure they understand how the NZEUR could be implicated in various criminal

activities, and to understand what those agencies are doing to manage related risks. We have

joined broader inter-agency networks to achieve this.

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Redevelopment of the NZEUR

41. The New Zealand Government has made a long-term commitment to reducing New Zealand’s

greenhouse gas emissions. Our primary instrument for doing this is the ETS. The EPA

administers the scheme and operates the NZEUR, which is the system in which ETS-related

transactions take place, including emission unit trading and reporting activities. In December

2013, the EPA Board approved the business case for the replacement of the NZEUR.

42. This project is now well underway and tracking to schedule, with Go Live scheduled for early

2015 (providing the system being developed meets strict security and user acceptance criteria

at that time). A second system release is scheduled for July 2015, which will bring in the

remaining functionality not required in the first release. The new system is to be called the New

Zealand Emission Trading Register to better reflect the system's functions.

43. Communication preparation is well underway to ensure that businesses needing to access the

system immediately before and after Go Live have all the information they require and are well

supported by the EPA during the transition to the new system.

44. The investment case for the redeveloped NZEUR is primarily a strategic case, given the ageing

nature of the current technology and the implications this has for meeting needs going forward.

The new system allows for close alignment with the Government’s Result Areas 9 and 10 as

well as taking advantage of the all-of-government services such as RealMe and Infrastructure

as a Service. Benefits to be realised from this project include greater flexibility to adapt to policy

changes, better ability to manage security risks into the future, and improved usability for

system users.

45. Monetary benefits will be realised through lower system hosting costs over the life of the new

system, compared to the current NZEUR. Annual savings are largely accounted for in the first

three years as they will substantially fund the last of the depreciation of the current Emissions

Reporting Tool (ERT). The ERT is still being depreciated as it was built later than the main

Register. We also need to be able to use the ERT until at least the end of the “True Up”

(reconciliation) for Commitment Period 1 of the Kyoto Protocol, from 2015, and potentially for

other reporting.

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Part Four: Pending decisions or actions

Ministerial decisions to support implementation of the redeveloped NZEUR

46. As part of the redevelopment of the NZEUR the EPA will be asking you to engage with, and

seek agreement from, the Minister of Finance on decisions about how the Crown Holding

Accounts are structured in the new register, the New Zealand Emissions Trading Register

(NZETR), how the EPA issues New Zealand Units (NZUs), and how to transfer the current

NZUs in the Crown Holding account to the new NZETR.

47. The changes have been driven by the need to align administrative processes with the new

registry software package to reduce customisations. In addition, the changes have the benefit of

being operationally more efficient for the EPA and ETS participants. Overall these are low risk

changes with no consequences for New Zealand’s ability to meet current or future international

obligations or domestic policy requirements.

48. We will provide a briefing to support your interaction with the Minister of Finance on this matter.

ETS Review

49. We anticipate that the next formal review of the ETS will occur in 2015. The EPA is in a unique

position to provide insights into the operation of the ETS and the carbon market. While the

process and scope for the review is yet to be agreed, specific areas that the EPA would like to

be considered for inclusion are:

market oversight (financial insight)

instruments available to use in the case of non-compliance (including the $30 per unit

penalty)

possible areas of simplification.

50. It is also anticipated that issues such as the continuation of the 2:1 surrender provisions and

whether the agriculture sector should face surrender obligations will be considered.

51. Changes to policy settings would impact the EPA processes and systems. However, one of the

key drivers of the NZEUR redevelopment project is to ensure that the new system is scalable

and flexible to meet future policy requirements.

52. The review will also provide the opportunity to include enhancements to the CCRA legislation to

improve the operational aspects of the legislation that have proved problematic. Many of these

changes are minor and technical, such as aligning timeframes for repayments, due dates for

surrenders where an amendment has occurred etc.

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Auctioning

53. As part of the wider policy work on the supply of units, the auctioning of units may be

considered. Should this be the case, the EPA is well placed to work with the MfE to implement

an auctioning system or service, either in house or by contracting a third party to do so. By

building the new NZETR using modern flexible technology, the EPA is better positioned going

forward to integrate new functions such as auctioning.

Review of the EPA

54. The MfE is currently undertaking a review of the EPA, and the cost recovery topic will also be

considered under the CCRA legislation. Under the current legislation, there is the ability to

charge fees in a number of areas, although these require regulations to be enacted. Our current

view is that while we could charge fees, the cost of administration of these would likely be

greater than the amount that would be generated. In addition, the application of fees in certain

areas (for example, the processing of industrial allocation applications) would be inconsistent

with the overall design of the ETS. If unit auctioning is implemented, we believe there are good

arguments for all or some of the proceeds to be applied directly back into the administration of

the ETS through the appropriate output classes, rather than into the consolidated account.

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Appendix One: The EPA Strategy and He Whetū Mārama

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Appendix Two: Output classes, fees and other revenue for 2014-15

Note: This table is from the Statement of Performance Expectations 2014-15. The recovery column

refers to the functional basis of cost recovery.

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Appendix Three: Biographies of key people

Kerry Prendergast, EPA Board Chair

Kerry Prendergast gained substantial governance experience as Mayor of Wellington from 2001

to 2010, and as a borough and city councillor for 15 years prior to that. During her time as

Mayor she was involved in significant periods of change and growth at the Wellington City

Council. Ms Prendergast also brings knowledge in environmental management and has

experience working with ministers and government departments.

End of Appointment on EPA Board: 31 May 2017.

Dr Kevin Thompson, EPA Board Deputy Chair and HSNO Committee Chair

Dr Thompson is an experienced engineer and general manager who brings strategic

management and technical leadership skills to the EPA Board. He is the former Chief Executive

of Opus International Consultants Ltd and previously served as Chief Executive of Works Civil

Construction. Dr Thompson is highly skilled in governance and organisational change and

growth, and has good knowledge of New Zealand’s environmental management system.

End of Appointment on EPA Board: 1 July 2015.

Tim Lusk, EPA Board

Tim Lusk is a former Chief Executive of Meridian Energy and has held senior roles in

Transpower and Telecom. This experience gives him a unique blend of understanding of both

major infrastructure projects and the regulatory environment.

End of Appointment on EPA Board: 1 July 2016.

Taria Tahana, EPA Board

Taria Tahana is on the Board of Learning Media and Te Māngai Pāho (the Māori Broadcasting

Agency).

Additionally, she consults in Māori development as the Managing Director of Tahana Ltd, and

has been a business executive for corporations such as Fletcher Challenge and Ernst & Young

(Canada). Ms Tahana is a trustee to Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa, Ngāti Pikiao Iwi Trust, and

Korowai Aroha. She has served on a number of government advisory groups, including the

Māori Economic Taskforce for Waiariki, Hui Taumata Economic Taskforce 2005, and the

Women’s Affairs Māori Economic Reference Group.

End of Appointment on EPA Board: 31 May 2017.

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Dr Nicki Crauford, EPA Board

Dr Crauford brings a wealth of experience in governance and decision making for large

organisations. In addition to her current role as a senior consultant with an engineering firm,

WorleyParsons, she has held senior leadership positions with the Institution of Professional

Engineers, the Institute of Directors and Transpower.

She is a past director of Genesis Energy and currently holds directorships with Watercare

Services, Capacity Infrastructure Services and Orion Energy (from August 2014), and chairs the

Wellington Rural Fire Authority. Dr Crauford’s early career was in the oil and gas industry.

End of Appointment on EPA Board: 1 July 2016.

Gillian Wratt, EPA Board

Gillian Wratt has extensive experience in the science and environmental sectors. She is a past

Chief Executive of the Cawthron Institute – a private scientific research organisation whose

work includes providing practical and independent aquatic and environmental research

expertise. Prior to that, Ms Wratt headed New Zealand’s Antarctic programme and the NZ

Antarctic Institute, and worked for the Ministry for the Environment and the Crop Research

Division of DSIR. She brings to the Board a commitment to the application of science to sound

environmental decision making.

End of Appointment on EPA Board: 1 July 2016.

Kura Denness, EPA Board

Kura Denness spent her early professional life working in both chartered accountancy and

various finance roles in commerce. She is currently an independent company director. She is

Chair of Te Atiawa (Taranaki) Holdings Limited and Te Rau Matatini. In addition she is on the

Boards of: Massey University Council (Chair, Audit and Risk Committee), Te Atiawa (Taranaki)

Settlements Trust, PHARMAC (Chair, Audit and Risk Committee, member Maori Caucus),

Allied Laundry Limited, Tui Ora Limited, Te Korimako o Taranaki (Maori radio station), TSB

Community Trust, and Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa. She is also on the Taranaki branch

committee of the Institute of Directors and affiliates to Te Atiawa iwi.

End of Appointment on EPA Board: 31 May 2017.

Rob Forlong, Chief Executive

Rob Forlong has been the Chief Executive of the EPA since 2011. He has held senior executive

positions for the past 10 years in both central and local government. Rob has a broad range of

experience in environmental management, including freshwater management, coastal

management, parks, conservation, flood protection, hazardous substances and new organisms.

He has more than 20 years' experience in the environment field. Rob has an M.Sc (Hons) in

Zoology.

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He has attended courses at the London School of Business and Chicago Graduate School of

Business. He is an Associate Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management and a

member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.

Andrea Gray, General Manager, Emissions Trading Scheme

Andrea Gray joined the EPA in November 2011 as the inaugural General Manager, Emissions

Trading Scheme. Andrea has a BMus, BA (Linguistics) and an MA (Library & Information

Studies). Her work in the private and public sectors over the past 30 years has included

database systems engineering, knowledge and information management and business

relationship management. She has completed the three-year Public Sector Advanced

Leadership Programme and the Australia NZ School of Government Managing Regulation &

Compliance and Executive Fellows Programmes.

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Appendix Four: Ngā Kaihautū Tikanga Taiao biographies

Tīpene Wilson, Tumuaki (Chair)

Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Ngāti Apakura, Ngāti Tura, Ngāti Te Ngākau

Tipene Wilson was appointed Tumuaki of Ngā Kaihautū on 1 July 2013. His Ngā Kaihautū

membership commenced on 1 July 2012 when he took up the role of Tumuaki Tuarua (Deputy

Chair). Tipene is owner and Chief Executive of Maximize Consultancy Ltd, a company focused

on maximising opportunity, creating value and assisting corporate and government

organisations to work productively with Māori. He is a qualified RMA hearings commissioner

and has experience in a national management role. Tipene has worked with Māori, corporate

organisations, central and local government, and other agencies in strategic and project

planning and management across the resource and environmental management sector.

Tipene was the inaugural chair of Ngāti Tura, Ngāti Te Ngākau Hapū Trust in Te Arawa, and

has been chair of Parawai Marae. He is the inaugural Treasurer of the Ngāti Koroki Kahukura

Trust in Waikato-Tainui and former secretary of Pōhara Marae. He is currently undertaking

projects for his marae and hapū, is chair of a Māori land incorporation, and has been involved in

a number of other Māori and community Trusts and Boards.

Ngaire Burley, Tumuaki Tuarua (Deputy Chair)

Tapuika, Ngāti Moko, Ngāti Marukukere, Ngāti Kurī

Ngaire Burley was appointed to Ngā Kaihautū in July 2014 and appointed as the Ngā Kaihautū

Tumuaki Tuarua (Deputy Chair) in September 2014. She is a new face to the EPA and Ngā

Kaihautū, but a few years ago Ngaire worked as Programme Manager in the New Organisms

team of ERMA NZ and as Acting General Manager Māori for Kaupapa Kura Taiao.

Ngaire has a multi-disciplinary 30-year career working mainly in the government sector. She

has worked for the Ministry of Social Development on projects related to marae development

and providing people on low incomes with affordable finance options. She has also held senior

positions at Te Puni Kōkiri, Office of Treaty Settlements, the Ministry for the Environment,

Ministry of Science and Innovation, Ministry of Education, ACC, and as a research scientist at

Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research. She was also the first Māori Commissioner to be

appointed to the Environment Court. Ngaire has a Masters of Philosophy (Hon) in Zoology and

a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Accounting from the University of Auckland, and has a good

working knowledge of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 and the

Resource Management Act 1991.

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Dr James (Jamie) Ataria

Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Tuwharetoa

Dr Ataria was appointed to Ngā Kaihautū on 1 July 2011, having previously been a member of

ERMA NZ’s Ngā Kaihautū since May 2005.

Jamie has a doctorate in environmental toxicology from Lincoln University and is currently a

Senior Lecturer and Tūmuaki of the Kaupapa Māori Unit at the Agricultural and Life Science

Faculty, Lincoln University. He is also an ecotoxicologist in the Marine and Freshwater Group at

the Cawthron Institute.

Dr Ataria has research interests in mechanisms of chemical toxicity in vertebrate wildlife species

and the development and implementation of biochemical and physiological processes as tools

for assessing chemical impacts on wildlife – particularly species of significance to Māori. He is

also involved in initiatives to increase Māori capability and capacity through research, science

and technology, and is also an Associate Trustee of the Tuaropaki Trust.

James Doherty

Ngāti Tāwhaki, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Ruāpani, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Hokopū, Ngāi Tūhoe

Jim Doherty was appointed to Ngā Kaihautū on 21 October 2011. He is currently retired and

worked for many years in the Forest Service – including 10 years with Kaingaroa Logging

Company, Murupara, as a Fabrication Engineer.

Jim has been involved with many committees and Trust Boards dealing with environmental and

Māori matters, including membership on Environment Bay of Plenty’s Māori Regional

Representative Committee, Chair of the Kaingaroa Village Council, and member of the Claims

Committee for Te Rūnanganui o te Ikawhenua. Jim was involved in a Landcare Research

project involving 1080 uptake in pūhā, and was an expert advisor to the ERMA NZ decision-

making committee that considered the reassessment of 1080. Jim is a long-standing member of

the ERMA/EPA Māori National Network and a Kāhui Kaumātua member for that Network. He is

a Trustee on Te Kotahi A Tuhoe and works for the mandated iwi organisation to process all

Tuhoe Claims with the Crown. He is currently Chair of the Tūhoe Tuawhenua Trust and a

member of Ngā Matapopore a Māori Advisory Group to a FRST programme looking at

alternative pesticides.

Wharemāwhai Mina Timutimu

Te Atiawa and Ngāti Rāhiri

Mina Timutimu was appointed to Ngā Kaihautū on 21 October 2011. She is currently retired and

has a professional nursing background in General, Medical, Surgical and Plunket.

Mina has been involved in the health sector for many years and has had wide experience in

delivering health care, particularly in the field of Midwifery and Care of the Elderly.

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She is involved in many community networks, including life memberships of the Māori Women’s

Welfare League, Ngā Maia Māori Midwives Trust, National Council of Māori Nurses, Taranaki

Nurse Graduates and President of Waiariki Rohe, Roopu Wahine Toko i Te Ora. Mina is the

current Kaumātua for the New Zealand College of Midwives.

Marino Tahi

Ngai Tūhoe

Marino Tahi was appointed to Ngā Kaihautū in March 2013. For the past seven years he has

worked in the science innovation sector as the Māori Partnerships Manager – Business

Development for Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research Ltd. Marino works with a wide range of

Māori land trusts and incorporations seeking environmental solutions and sustainable economic

development outcomes in the Māori Agribusiness sector.

He has a BA/BCA from Victoria University and an MBA degree from the Massey University

College of Business. He is a member of the Māori advisory panel for the NZ Greenhouse Gas

Research Centre, Te Ara Putaiao (CRI Māori Managers collective) and the Māori Agribusiness

working group for increasing Māori land productivity.

Kelly May

Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Marangatūhetaua

Kelly May was appointed to Ngā Kaihautū in November 2013. She is currently employed as a

coastal fisheries scientist at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA).

She works within the Coastal Group and National Centre of Māori Environmental Research (Te

Kūwaha o Taihoro Nukurangi). Te Kūwaha provides expertise in environmental research, with a

strong Māori focus.

Kelly also has experience as a commercial fisheries manager and a Treaty of Waitangi Deed of

Settlement project manager. Kelly has a Masters in Aquaculture from Deakin University,

Australia. She has research interests in marine fisheries management and the development of

tools to assist with assessing the status of fish stocks. Kelly has a strong interest in knowledge

sharing, indigenous peoples' development, and the sustainability, management and utilisation of

natural resources.

James Whetu

Waikato, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Whakaue

James Whetu was appointed to Ngā Kaihautū in July 2014. He works with the Waikato Regional

Council and advises on resource management planning and policy, with particular focus on their

co-management responsibilities and post-Treaty settlement implementation.

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He is a work stream lead on the Healthy Rivers – Wai Ora project, a partnership project with iwi,

which aims to improve the water quality of the Waikato and Waipa Rivers and their catchments

through a collaborative process with stakeholders.

James is Director and Principal Planner of his own consultancy firm Whetu Consultancy Group,

which he operates jointly with his wife Amy. He holds a Bachelor of Tourism majoring in

Resource, Impacts and Environmental Planning from the University of Waikato, and has also

gained further qualifications in ecological and building design, facilitation and as an RMA

Independent Commissioner. James has held multiple positions with his iwi and in his local

community, serving as Deputy Chair for the Ngāruawāhia Community Board, Chairman for the

Ngāruawāhia Community Arts Centre, and Marae representative on the Raukawa

Environmental Forum to develop the Raukawa Environmental Management Plan. He is also an

active member of his Waikato-Tainui and Ngāti Tūwharetoa tribes.

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